Storm spawns tornado

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

CARUTHERSVILLE -- Officials confirmed three tornadoes passed through Pemiscot County Tuesday afternoon, but they did not cause the same devastation as the tornado that passed through the area earlier this month.

"Some people were trying to outrun the tornadoes and ended up getting caught out in the middle of the storms," Pemiscot County Sheriff Tommy Greenwell said.

No fatalities were reported; however, Pemiscot County Sheriff's Department said two minor injuries were reported to the Hayti hospital as the result of motor vehicle accidents during tornadoes. One driver was injured when his vehicle left the roadway due to hail covering the road and struck a utility pole.

Area law enforcement officers and trained emergency storm spotters verified the tornadoes, which were also accompanied by quarter-size to golf ball-size hail, which was, in many areas, up to four inches deep in places. A drastic drop in temperature was also recorded.

Several metal farm shops were damaged or destroyed and at least one mobile home was completely destroyed, according to the sheriff's department. Several homes had minor to moderate hail and wind damage; other homes were damaged by falling trees.

"People in the area are not over the April 2 tornado outbreak and here, just a little over three weeks later, we have multiple tornadoes pass the area again," Greenwell said. "The residents are very apprehensive, to say the least, at this point at even the threat of severe weather in our area."